Leafs shake up front office: Dubas in as assistant GM; Poulin, Loiselle out

Former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager and now special advisor to the team Cliff Fletcher (centre) stands with Dave Poulin, vice-president of hockey operations (left) and Claude Loiselle, Leafs’ assistant general manager, in Toronto on on January 9, 2013, following the firing of Brian Burke. The Leafs have shaken up their front office by hiring Kyle Dubas as assistant GM. Poulin and Loiselle are out. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / File)

TORONTO — Brendan Shanahan made his first significant front-office move as Toronto Maple Leafs president on Tuesday by hiring Kyle Dubas as assistant general manager.

Dubas, who served as GM of the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, is a major proponent of advanced statistics in hockey, and his addition to the Leafs under Shanahan and general manager Dave Nonis could signal a shift in organizational philosophy.

“Kyle is a young executive that has made a strong name for himself in hockey with a progressive style, work ethic and maturation beyond his years,” Shanahan said in a statement. “He has a fresh approach that we feel will benefit our club for years to come.”

The Leafs also parted ways with executives Claude Loiselle and Dave Poulin in the front-office shakeup.

Dubas, a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., is just 28 years old and was a hockey operations assistant, scout and player agent before becoming the youngest GM in OHL history three years ago. He called the chance to work for the Leafs a “dream come true.”

Nonis called Dubas an “up-and-coming hockey executive.”

“He is an innovative thinker that will bring enthusiasm and impressive abilities to our club,” Nonis said in a statement. “His work ethic, character and demonstrated leadership in Sault Ste. Marie make for a valuable combination that will certainly have a positive impact on our organization in many ways.”

Poulin, who held the title of vice president of hockey operations since 2009, and Loiselle, assistant GM since 2010, were originally hires of former GM Brian Burke and stayed on under Nonis. It was not immediately clear if the Leafs were going to hire another assistant GM before the start of the 2014-15 NHL season.

The Greyhounds hired Dubas as when he was just 25 and gave the Leafs permission to speak to him last week. Sault Ste. Marie made the playoffs in two of his three seasons at the helm.

“As an organization we are very excited for the opportunity that has presented itself for Kyle starting today,” Greyhounds president Lou Lukenda said in a statement released by the team. “It has been a pleasure to see the passion, dedication and commitment he has shown our organization over his tenure as GM while ensuring the sustained success for the Soo Greyhounds program.

“Our organization has always been dedicated to providing the best experience in all aspects of it’s operations, while providing the necessary tools and experience to make career advancements like this one.”